Smart Grids : Context, Actors and Issues

The aim of this article is to provide an introduction to the concept of Smart Grids, which are set to play an important role in the structure of our electricity system in the coming years.

As a result, this article is intended to provide a general overview of Smart Grids, and to introduce the more technical sections dealing with specific issues.

After a general description of the energy and environmental context in which Smart Grids are emerging, a review of different definitions of the concept is presented. Based on these, a coherent definition is proposed.

The following sections present the new elements intrinsic to these emerging networks: technologies, players and business models.

Then, in order to fully understand the benefits that Smart Grids are likely to bring to the entire energy chain, we take a look at some of the functions of future systems.

A fundamental feature of Smart Grids is the integration of new information and communication technologies (NICT) into power grids. A point on cybersecurity relates to these networks and will therefore be addressed.

Before concluding, given the impact these new networks will have on the energy world and on our societies, the risks and opportunities they present will be carefully examined.